Four boys arrested in string of armed carjackings, robberies in Toronto and York Region

Four boys aged 14 to 16 were arrested in connection to several armed carjackings and robberies across Toronto and York Region.

Toronto and York police officers were notified of three carjackings and eight pharmacy robberies between September 19 and October 4 at various locations.

Police say one or two armed boys would approach vehicles, pointing a handgun at the occupant while demanding their keys, car and property. The group of boys would then flee in the stolen vehicle.

It’s alleged that the same young men would target pharmacies in the stolen vehicles in what officers called a “takeover-style robbery.” One group member would produce a handgun and make demands for cash and narcotics, then flee the scene shortly after.

No physical injuries were reported to the police.

Through an investigation, police successfully identified some of the boys that had committed the alleged robberies. On October 6, Toronto and York region officers witnessed one of the boys entering a stolen vehicle obtained in a recent carjacking. They tracked the car down and arrested the occupants.

A replica handgun was seized in a search of the stolen vehicle, along with a significant amount of narcotics.

Three 14-year-old boys were arrested and charged with various offences, including firearm robbery. One of the 14-year-old is only facing one charge, possession of property obtained by crime. One young man, 16, faces 11 counts of robbery with a firearm, among other charges.

These individuals were not identified through the Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA). The four boys appeared in court on October 7.